Multi-purpose hand tool



June 1, 1965 R. P. SIMMONS 3,136,009

MULTI-PURPOSE HAND TOOL Filed Nov. 19, 1962 FIG. I

i/T'W Q IN VEN TOR. RUFUS P. S/MMON5 BY WK (Ma/A z:

United States Patent f 3,186,009 MULTI-PURPOSE HAND T601. Rufus P. Simmons, 3598 Mimosa Ave, Memphis, Tenn. Filed Nov. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 238,392 3 (Zlaims. (Cl. 7-16) This invention relates to a number of small hand tools such as those used to turn screw fasteners, and to punch or countersink holes and the like.

Hand tools such as those mentioned above generally comprise an acting part or head which is of suitable design for the particular application for the tool, a handle part for manipulating the head, and a shank part extendingly connecting the head and the handle.

Relative to this specification and as hereinafter referred to, the shank part and the head, without the handle, will be designated a tool-bit.

Thus, one object of the present invention is to provide a multi-purpose hand tool whereby a number of tool-bits are foldably contained in or are manipulatingly used by a single handle.

A further object is to provide a multi-purpose hand tool having a positive though relatively simple means for rigidly holding each foldable tool-bit in an open or a closed position.

A further object is to provide a multi-purpose hand tool wherein each foldable tool-bit, when in an open position, extends at a right angle from the handle thereby providing means for ample turning effort to be applied to the particular tool-bit in use.

A further object is to provide a multi-purpose hand tool having, in addition to the tool-bits foldable within the handle, also tool-bits which are fixedly mounted in opposite ends of the handle.

A further object is to provide a multi-purpose hand tool wherein the foldable tool-bits and the fixed tool-bits are cooperatively arranged in such a fashion as to provide mutual leverage means so that the foldable tool-bits, when open, provide leverage to turn the fixed bits; and the fixed bits provide leverage means for turning the foldable bits.

A further object is to improve generally the design and construction of multi-purpose hand tools and the like.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tool of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken as on the line II1I of FIG. 1, with fragmentary portions being broken away for purposes of clarity.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectionalized view of the tool with one of the foldable tool-bits in an open position.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals, tool 11 of the present invention includes a cylindrical handle 13 having a body 15 and a retainer cap 17. Handle 13 is preferably constructed of light-weight metal or the like, and is of such general form as is conventionally used for larger screwdriver handles and the like. An end portion 18 of handle body 15 is of reduced diameter, and this portion is provided with external threads 19 which extend from end surface 21 to annular step portion 23. The annular step portion 23 of handle body 15 extends perpendicularly dresses Patented June 1, 1965 from external threads 19 to the cylindrical surface 25 of body 15.

Four equally spaced grooves 27 are disposed longitudinally in cylindrical surface 25 of handle body 15, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. Each groove 27 extends through step portion 23 and is of such a depth that the intersection of bottom 29 and step portion 23 is in close adjacency to the periphery of threads 19. From step portion 23, each groove 27 extends longitudinally in handle body 15 to intersect cylindrical surface 25 at edge 31. Parallel sides 33, 35 define the lateral portions of each groove 27, as best shown in FIG. 2.

Four tool-bits 37 are foldably mounted on handle body 15, with each tool-bit adjacent a respective groove 27. Each tool-bit 37 has, as previously defined, an acting part or head 39 and a shank part 41. Shank part 41 includes an end surface 43 and a circular opening 45 extending diametrically therethrough adjacent end surface 43 of tool-bit 37 Corresponding openings 47, 49 are provided in body 15 and extend outwardly from sides 33, 35 of grooves 27, with each of openings 47, 49 terminatingly intersecting cylindrical surface 25. Each tool-bit 37 is pivotally connected to body 15 by .an elongated pin 51, and thus each tool-bit is connected between sides 33, 35 of a respective groove 27 by a respective pin 51 extending through openings 45, 47, 49.

The retainer cap 17 is cooperatively associated with the four tool-bits 37. As mentioned previously, retainer cap 17 and body 15 comprise handle 13 of the tool 11. Internal threads 53 are thus provided in the hollow interior of cap 17 and connectingly engage external threads 19 of body 15. Retainer cap 17 is of substantially the same circular proportions as handle body 15 and includes an end wall portion 55 and a rim portion which has an annular face 57 perpendicularly disposed to the center axis of cap 17.

FIG. 3 illustrates the opened and closed positionsof the foldable tool-bits 37. Thus, when in an open position, a tool-bit 37 extends perpendicularly to the handle 13, and when in a closed position, the tool-bit is longitu' dinally disposed within its respective groove 27. Thus, in FIG. 3 the uppermost tool-bit 37 is shown in a closed position in dotted lines and an open position in solid lines. It will be seen that with a tool-bit 37 in an open position, annular face 57 of cap 17 engages a portion of the cylindrical surface of the tool-bit adjacent opening 45; and with a tool-bit 37 in the closed position, the annular face 57 of cap 17 engages end surface 43 of the tool-bit.

Considerable attention should be given to the accurate placement of openings 45 in the shank portions 41 of toolbits 37. It should be noted that in order for retainer cap 17 to effectively retain the tool-bits 37 in either open or closed position, the distance perpendicular from the cen ter axis of opening 45 to the cylindrical surface of shank portion 41 should be the same as the distance from the center axis of opening 45 to the end surface 43 of shank portion 41. Thus, when the respective tool-bits 37 are all in open or closed positions or in different positions, that is, some closed and some open, annular face 57 of retainer cap 17 should simultaneously abuttingly engage the respective surfaces of the various tool-bits.

To aid in the opening of tool-bits 37, a crescent-shaped portion is preferably removed from handle 13 adjacent each groove 29 and corresponding side 33, as designated with character 53 and as best shown in FIG. 1.

It will be noted, as best seen in FIG. 3, that the righthand portion of handle 13 is somewhat larger than the lef -hand end. The portions of handle 13 as viewed to the right, and including the right-hand portion of handle body 15 and the retainer cap 17, are preferably larger diametrically than the left-hand end to facilitate a durably constructed tool. Relative to the above, it should be noted that the foldable tool-bits 37 are of sufiicient diameter at their respective pivots to provide a durable structure at these points. It should also be noted that the measurements of the tool ll that determine the depth of grooves 27, the diameter of the shank portions 41 of tool-bits .37, the diameter of pivot pins 1, and the dimension of annular face 57 are important measurements relative to the strength and durability of the tool, and considerable care should be exercised to assure that they are of sufficient proportions.

The particular tool-bits used may, of course, be varied to suit the particular applications, and they may be any of those such as are used to turn screw fasteners or drill, punch or countersink holes and the like, and may include a Phillips screwdriving bit, a gimlet, which are shown, and a regular screwdriver bit, a punch or awl, and the like.

Two fixedly mounted tool-bits including a first tool-bit 59 and a second tool-bit 61 are mounted at opposite ends of handle body 15. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the first tool-bit 59 is a screwdriving bit and is fixedly secured to handle body remote from retainer cap 17 as by a circular bore 63 in handle body 15 into which the shank port-ion of tool-bit 59 is aflixed. Second tool-bit 61 is oppositely disposed from tool-bit 59 and, when not in use, the second tool-bit is conveniently covered by retainer cap 17. Second tool-bit 61, as shown in FIG. 3, is a counter-sink bit and is similarly mounted as is toolbit 59 with the shank portion of tool-bit 61 fixedly mounted in the circular bore 65 provided in the center axial portion of handle body 15.

It is quite readily seen that the tool of the present invention is used, in general, as each one of the tool-bits would be used should each be a separate tool; that is, the present tool is used for such basic operations as turning screw fasteners, drilling or punching holes, and the like, in much the same manner as a corresponding individual tool for each such operation would be used.

In using the foldable tool-bits 37, when it is desired to extendingly open one or more of these bits, retainer cap 17 is removably turned .a few threads from body 15, thus disengaging annular face 57 of cap 17 from each end surface 43 of tool-bits 37. The selected one or more of tool-bits 37 are then opened and retainer cap 17 subsequently threadedly returned the few threads along body 15 to secure the tool-bits. The annular face 57 of cap 17, in addition to holding the closed tool-bits closed, also holds the open tool-bits open by abutt ngly engaging a lateral portion of the shank portion 4 1 of the respective tool-bit 37 that is open.

It will .be seen that the foldable tool-bits 37 are particularly suited for hard-to-turn or frozen fasteners. Also, by having the handle 13 extend perpendicular to the shank portions 41 of the respective tool-bits 37, it is possible to effectively use the tool in a limited work space. The first fixed tool-bit 59, because of its characteristic size and placement, is used generally as a conventional screwdriving bit for turning or prying; however, an added feature of tool 11 relative to the using of fixed tool-bit 59 is that should it be desirable to have more turning effort applied, one or more of the foldable tool-bits 37 can be opened, thereby serving conveniently as additional leverage means. The location of second fixed tool-bit 61 is particularly suitable for such tool-bits as a counter-sink bit, .as shown. In using this bit or a like bit, the retainer cap 17 is removed, thereby allowing access to this tool-b t. The

4, covering of second tool-bit s1 is particularly advantageous for it prevents the sharpened edges of the cutters from being nicked or blunted by other tools and the like, and also prevents moisture from corroding or otherwise impairing the effectiveness of this tool-bit.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the tool 11 of the present invention provides .a tool suitably adaptable for a number of uses. Further, tool 11 of the present invention is compact, convenient and useful, and can be readily manufactured and marketed.

Although the invention has been descr bed and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A multi-purpose hand tool comprising a cylindrical body having an externally threaded end portion and ineluding a plurality of equi-angularly spaced grooves extending longitudinally in said cylindrical body, a like plurality of tool-bits having shank portions with each of said shank portions having a lateral surface and an end surface, means pivotally connecting said shank portions of said tool-bits to said cylindrical body for foldable movement of each of said tool-bits to an open or a closed position, each of said tool-bits being perpendicular to said cylindrical body in said open position and being received in and contiguous with said grooves in said closed position, rand a retainer member having an interior portion thereof provided with internal threads and including an annular face perpendicular to the axis of said retainer member, said retainer member threadedly engaging said threaded end portion of said body and axially movable thereon with said annular face of said retainer member engaging said lateral surface or said end surface of each of said shank portions of said tool-bits for selectively securing each of said tool-bits in a respectively open or closed position.

2. A hand tool comprising an elongated body having a laterally disposed peripheral portion, a bit having a longitudinal axis and a shank portion and having on said shank portion a first surface extending substantially parallel to said axis and a second surface extending substantially perpendicular to said axis, pivot means pivotally connecting said shank portion of said bit to said body for foldable movement of said bit respectively to and from open and closed positions relative to said elongated body with the pivot axis of said bit being disposed transversely of said body and adjacent said peripheral portion, and a retainer member threadedly engaging said body with said retainer member being threadedly positionable to engage said shank portion of said bit selectively on said first or said second surface to retain said bit respectively in an open or a closed position.

3. A hand tool comprising an elongated'body having a laterally disposed peripheral portion, a movable bit hav ing a longitudinal axis and a shank portion and having on said shank portion a first surface extending substantially 7 parallel to said axis and a second surface extending substantially perpendicular to said axis, pivot means pivotally connecting said shank portion of said movable bit to said body for foldable movement of said bit respectively to and from open and closed positions relative to said body with the pivot axis of said movable bit being disposed transversely of said body and adjacent said peripheral portion, a retainer member threadedly engaging said body with said retainer member being threadedly positionable to engage said shank portion of said movable bit selectively on said first or said second surface to retain said movable bit respectively in an open or a closed position, and a fixed bit secured to and extending outwardly longitudinally from said body, said fixed bit being torsionally operable and turnably drivable from said movable bit and blL.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/18 Gaynor 813.35 9/55 Johnston 30-155 6 2,726,695 12/55 Malm 145--61.8 2,786,380 3/57 Rolland 716 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,104,068 6/55 France.

43 1,222 7/3 5 Great Britain.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. MILTON MEHR, Examiner. 

1. A MULTI-PURPOSE HAND TOOL COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL BODY HAVING AN EXTERNALLY THREADED END PORTION AND INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF EQUI-ANGULARLY SPACED GROOVES EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY IN SAID CYLINDRICAL BODY, A LIKE PLURALITY OF TOOL-BITS HAVING SHANK PORTIONS WITH EACH OF SAID SHANK PORTIONS HAVING A LATERAL SURFACE AND AN END SURFACE, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID SHANK PORTIONS OF SAID TOOL-BITS TO SAID CYLINDRICAL BODY FOR FOLDABLE MOVEMENT OF EACH SAID TOOL-BITS TO AN OPEN OR A CLOSED POSITION, EACH OF SAID TOOL-BITS BEING PERPENDICULAR TO SAID CYLINDRICAL BODY IN SAID OPEN POSITION AND BEING RECEIVED IN AND CONTIGUOUS WITH SAID GROOVES IN SAID CLOSED POSITION, AND A RETAINER MEMBER HAVING AN INTERIOR PORTION THEREOF 